Artificial golf-course covering



June 10, 1930. SWOPE I 1,763,411

ARTIFICIAL GOLF COURSE COVERING Original Filed Jan. 15, 1.930

gwuentw Graqy .2, 520670 (2 Mar/W door and outdoor Patented June 10, 1930 1'- OFFICE- GRADY R. SWOPE, OF ST. PETERSB'URG, FLORIDA nn'rrrrcmr.GOLF-COURSE COVERING I Substitute torapp lication Serial No. 421,049,filed January '15, 1930. This Serial No. 450,798.

The present invention relates to an improved artificial covering ormatting for ingolf courses, and is a sub stitute for allowed application421,049,1iled Jan. 15, In localities where to grow, because of climaticor soil conditions, golf courses in such places have their puttinggreens covered with artificial sub- 10 stances to simulate, as closelyas possible, the conditions met withwhen playing over a grass green.Moreover, due tothe increasing popularity of golf and the large numberof players using the links, it is quite diflicult to keep the grass onthe put-ting green in proper playing condition, and consequently it iso'ften necessary to employ an artificial green which will not becomeworn under constant usage. r

The artificial greens heretofore employed have been usually composed ofshort fibers of material held togethercb a suitable binder. Themaindifliculty with these v greens has been that the fibers soon becomeloose, and when walked on leave indentations which constantly requirethem to be leveled and. re-

rolled,- I

An essential object of the present invention is,to 3 cut fibers of asubstance which, when the fibers are mixed and secured by aviscousbinder, forms a matted surface which, in properties andcharacteristics, very closely simulates the turf used on natural greens.

A further object consists in using feathersas'the main ingredients inthe construction of the artificial green. Preferably, the feathers :arecut into short pieces and mixed together, and then secured bya suitablebinder. Due to the tenacious and flexible character of the barbs, thecut pieces tend to cling .or adhere to one another, so that in its finalform, the matted surface constitute s a homogeneous mass, the parts ofwhich are so intertwined as to be capableof-resisting any force orpressure tending to separate them. The intertwined barbs provide a softsurface resembling, vin many respects, an ordinary Serial No.

it is diflicult for grass so grass gr en nd suitable trea m nt thereofas by including another the ball when moved the'reover. provide anartificial green composedof composedfof feathers will economicallyproduced,

application fi led ua' s, 1930.

substance, such as sand, sawdust or otherdivided material will giveweight to the mass; Moreover, it will ordinarlly be'desired to employ asuitable binder. I

Preferably the feathers are comminuted or cut so that the particles arerelatively small, although if extremely small feathers are usedthiswould be an equivalent of comminution, and the invention asdisclosed and claimed with respect to comminution or cutting of thefeathers is to be so interpreted. If desired, small pieces of the stemsmay be retained with some barbs attached thereto, but, if retained, thestem pieces must be extremely small, since large ieces would formsurface projections of undesirable character and interfere-with themovement of a ball. However, equally good, ifnot better results areobtained when the stem pieces are substantially eliminated. f

' It has been found that an artificial green constructed in accordancewith the present invention possesses characteristics and features veryclosely simulating a turf putting green, since the exposed barbs tend toassume positions similar to short'blades of grass and offer a certaindegree of resistance to an artificialgreen not rot as quickly so thegreen coloring It has beenv found that as other-substances, while mlxedwith the binder does not easily lose- -its shade whensubj ect to theelements. As all parts of the green maybe very and its wearing qualitiesare materially enhanced due to the tenacious character of the barbswhich have a tendency to felt and cling together and'willnot tear orseparate under ordinary use.

A further object consists in a new and novel process of constructing anartificial green.

Another object of the invention' consists in adding sawdust to thefeathers so as to in:- crease the bulk of the matted surface, and 95also lessen the cost of production. Additionally, sand may be addedtogive weight to the mass. I

Further objects and'advanta es of the invention will become apparentfeathers may be obtained in country, t-h1s artificial 1 1. the =1ou ilowing description when taken in conjunction with the accompanyingclaims.

Referring to the drawings in which is disclosed several preferredembodiments of the invention:

Figure 1 is asectional view of the ground around a putting green with myartificial covering applied thereto.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail view showing the intertwining relationexisting between the barbs of the feathers, certain stem particles beingretained in the form illustrated,

Referring to the drawings, in which like numerals indicate like parts inthe several views, 10 denotes the ground surrounding one of the holes 11of a golf course, which is commonly referred to as the putting green.

In order that the putting green in localities where it is difficult togrow grass may simulate as closely as possible the conditions 1 existingon a grass golf course, I have provided an artificial covering ormatting surface 12 which is preferably composed of cut feathers that arefirst graded according to size, and then reduced to small pieces. Thecut feathers 13 are then treated as by mixing with a suitable liquidsubstance such as oil or the like, so as to give weight to the mass,said substance also acting as aviscous binder. The oil may first bemixed with a green or other coloring matter and then mixed with thefeathers, so as to form a composite mass capa ble of being readilyapplied to the ground surface. The mixture is then ready to be laid onthe green and when rolled out, presents a surface ,very closelyapproximating in characteristics a grass green. Refuse oil from cylindercrank cases has been found to be very satisfactory and gives the desiredweight to the mixture. Moreover, oil-paint or tarmay also be used as abinder.

In order to give bulk and weight to the mass and also reduce the cost ofproducing the artificial green, a divided substance, such as sawdust orsand, or both, may be added to the mixture in varying proportions.

I have found a mixture of two portions of sawdust to one of feathers'tobe very satisfactory and efficient in use. .The sawdust, in addition togiving bulk to the mass, also tends to smooth out to a certain-degreethe exposed surface and fill up any interstices that might otherwise beformed therein. Sand may be added so as to give weight to the mass.

An artificial coveringcomposed of the following ingredients by volumehas been found to be very satisfactory: three portions of feathers, sixportions of sawdust, about one portion of sand and one-fifth portion ofoil. Of course, the ingredientsmay be mixedin varying proportions asdetermined by the best working conditions.

Feathers have been found to be admirably suited for making artificialputting greens,

because of the fact that when the feathers derstood that the coveringincludes barbs which are free from the stem ieces, as well as the stemattached barbs of igure 2.

An important and desirable feature of the invention resides in the factthat, in its final form, my artificial covering, when rolled, assumes ashape that allows the exposed barbs to protrude or project upwardly toretard the movement of a ball thereover, and thus very closely simulatesthe turf of a grass green. Moreover, any retained short stem pieces 15are of flexible and yieldable character, and may be bent to assumevarious shapes, but are not easily broken. Even when transverselycracked the parts remain jointed and will not separate. Consequently,the composite mass when walked on or distorted by a ball has a tendencyto immediately return to its normal shape when the pressure is released,and does not leave imprints or indentations therein. While my artificialcovering is particularly adapted for use on the putting green, it isquite obvious that it may also be efiiciently employed as a covering onthe fairway or any other parts of both indoor and outdoor golf courses,croquet, tennis courts and other games, and the term. golf courses asused throughout the specification and claims is to be so intermerelyillustrative of a preferred embodiment, and that the artificial coveringand method of producing the same may assumesuch other forms as fallwithin the purview of one skilled in the art without departing from thespirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: 7

1. An artificial covering for golf courses comprising a matted surfacecomposed. of intertwined feathers and a binder for the mixture,

2. An artificial covering for golf courses com risin a matted surfacecom osed of 1 their stems, and a binder for the mixture.

,to' the feathers to atQAnartificial covering for golf coursescomprising a matted surface composed of intertwined feathers, a finelydivided substance added to the feathers to give weight to the mass, anda binder for the mixture.

-5. An artificial covering for golf courses comprising a mat-ted surfacecomposed of feather barbs detached from their stems and intertwined thestems being substantially removed, a finely divided substance added giveweight to the mass, and a binder for the mixture.

6. An artificial covering for golf courses comprising a matted surfacecomposed of feathers treated to give additional weight thereto andhaving their barbs intertwined.

7. An artificial covering for golf courses comprising a mat-ted surfacecomposed of feathers cut and mixed so that their barbs areyintertwined,sand mixed. with said." feathers, and a binder securing the mixturetogether.

8. An artificial covering for golf courses comprising a mat-ted surfacecomposed of feathers cut and mixed 'so that their barbs are detachedfrom their stems and intertwined, sand mixed with said feathers, and abindersecuring the mixture together.

. 9. An artificial covering for golf courses comprising a matted surfacecomposed, of feathers cut and mixed so that their barbs are intertwined,a finely divided substance mixed with said feathers, and a bindersecuring the mixture together.

10.- An artificial covering for igolf courses feathers with a liquidbinder so as to cause the-barbs to be intertwined, adding a finelydivided substance to the mixture, and rolling the mixture over a surfaceto which it is applied. 4

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

GRADY R. SWOPE.

comprising a mat-ted surface composed of feathers cut and mixed so thattheir barbs;

are detached'from their stems and intertwined the stems? beingsubstantially re-' moved, sand mixed with said feathers, and a bindersecuring the mixture together.

11. An artificial covering for golf courses comprising a'matted surfacecomposed of cut feathers connected by their barbs, saw

dustmixcd with said feathers, sand added to said mixture, and a bindersecuring the mixture together. 7 12. An artificial cgvering' for golfcourses comprising amass composed of cut feathers mixed so that theirbarbs are intertwined, whereby the, mass tends to resist pressurecausing the separation of the feathers, and a colored oilbindersecurin'g the feathers to' gether. 13. The method of making anartificial cover for golf courses which consists in cutting feathersinto small pieces, mixing the i

